India to Use Microwaves to Transmit Power from Space

It's an incredible development scientists have been looking into for some time, but the use of microwaves to transmit electricity from solar collectors in space to anywhere on the planet may soon be a reality if one proposal by India's former president is given the necessary momentum to take flight.  The proposal by India's APJ Kalam and the National Space Society suggests that we may soon have the technology required to solve the energy crisis forever.  But there is a deadly side to this proposal even if it could essentially save the planet and give free energy to all.


 
The proposal sounds simple, but is incredibly complex at its core.  A rocket would be used to launch a massive solar array into space.  Once it reaches orbit the array would be either constructed or unfold itself into a fully capable solar collection system.  And this system would then have the ability to collect virtually an unlimited supply of solar energy to be transmitted back to the planet's surface.  How would it get the electricity to Earth below?  The solar collectors would be attached to a massive microwave transmitter which would then fire beams of incredibly powerful energy through the Earth's atmosphere to the planet below and microwave collection centers located throughout the planet.

But why haven't we created a system such as this before?  Aside from the obvious costs associated with launching a massive satellite array into space, there are some very real concerns over the means such a satellite would use to transmit energy back to the planet's surface.  A massive cable dragged into space would prove too heavy to effectively launch into space, and without the use of an orbital tower, this would be virtually impossible to create.  But the wireless transmission of energy into microwaves could allow the electricity to bypass the atmosphere, which traditionally blocks a substantial portion of light that reaches Earth and then be collected on the ground in a form usable by those working with power companies.

But is it safe to launch microwaves to the planet?  This is one of the concerns that has been raised in the past.  If such a system's navigational controls were compromised somehow, it would make this potential power generating system and savior of mankind into a disturbing and nightmarish enemy for all those on the surface of the planet.  Needless to say, there would have to be an incredibly advanced security system designed around the satellite that could shut it down remotely from Earth.  But then with people depending on the power, this system too would be dangerous.

On the other hand, if the system truly were effective and the current technological limitations were overcome in seeking clean energy, we may one day live in a world where power is limitless, and the only thing we would have to worry about from the power companies would be stray microwaves bombarding Earth from above.  Needless to say there are still a couple of things to work out.

Airbus Unveils Invisible Plane Plans

Passenger planes of the future may be quite a different experience from what we experience today.  The claustrophobic sensation of being in a tiny fuselage among a hundred other passengers may soon give way to a sensation of awe as the fuselage suddenly becomes transparent and passengers look in any direction able to see themselves passing through the clouds without the plane anywhere in sight.  Imagine standing in a plane as the floor suddenly vanishes from sight and seeing the ground passing beneath your feet a thousand feet below.


 
Imagine sitting down in your seat and watching as the plane's fuselage disappears all around you.  As you watch yourself suspended in what seems to be thin air the plane would begin take off and you would be able to see the runway quickly speeding past you on the ground.  As the craft made its ascent you would be able to observe your ascent as you quickly took off the ground.  Many people would have various reactions to this technology.  Many have already declared they would never get on an invisible plane even if they were paid to.  But imagine, if you will, the breathtaking sight of flying into a storm cloud and witnessing the cloud parting in front of you as you soar into the distance.  This incredible technology may just what the aviation industry needs to keep flying.  But other than a tourist draw, how many applications will there be for invisible aircraft?  And what problems might these planes face if they ever got off the ground so to speak?

Aside from the obvious military applications of invisibility technology, there is a very real possibility that people travelling with invisibility technology may find the experience more convenient as windows are customized to each passengers' wishes.  If an electrified field around a specially treated plate are all that is necessary to render an area invisible, windows could simply be made of layers like onions that could be made wider or smaller leaving the flying experience still more convenient for those terrified of flying.

Will invisible planes be the future of air travel?  And what problems will they face?  First of all, bathrooms will obviously have to be made opaque for the convenience and privacy of passengers.  The seats would obviously still be visible.  And there may even be a carpeted area or platform for passengers to make sure they were able to see their way around the craft.  The cockpit would likely have to remain opaque, or a wall would have to be placed between the passengers and the pilots of the craft.  And if the vehicle were entirely invisible to the outside as well, it may pose a threat to birds and other planes in the area.  Landing and guidance may be more difficult without visual confirmation unless the plane once again turned opaque.  But these problems seem small enough given the opportunity to soar amid the clouds in what seems like an unaided and magical trip.

Robot Unveiled that "Feels Love"

Stefan Ulrich, German designer, and inventor of the newest bizarre robot has alleged that his robot can simulate a strange creature "falling in love" with its owner.  The robots are specially designed to hug and cling to their owners, though they don't actually have arms.  And these amorphous automatons are creating quite a bit of stir amongst some AI advocates who suggest once a robot has been invented that can fall in love, it has taken a significant step toward becoming more human.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately depending on who you ask, an understanding of the systems behind these robots suggests that perhaps the words "falling in love" may be a bit too ambitious to describe Ulrich's invention.  Still, the cuddle bots are designed to provide a PG rated level of affection with their owners by sensing their presence, their movements, and even the sensation of touch as they are petted.  Though they may not be the latest strain of super robots designed to take over the world, many of those interested in the subject of artificial intelligence are vociferously declaring it dangerous to start using words such as "love" with so simple a robot as the advanced machine Ulrich has put forward.

Can a robot feel love?  AI futurists say the answer is most certainly yes, but with a few asterisks.  First, we would have to establish what love is within certain parameters and take into account various differences in the concept of love.  By the end of the exercise, however, many have come to the conclusion that AI robots can feel love assuming love is something that can be defined.  The simple fact of the matter is, within a reasonable equation such as the one proposed, many of us, although knowing when something is or is not love, still have yet to agree upon a strict set of parameters that can define love to the satisfaction of the scientific community.

Sensors buried just beneath the creature's "skin" react to touch, color, and warmth indicating when someone around them is pleasant to be around.  This alone creates a simulation of love that Ulrich is confident will go a long way toward synthesizing affection.  In a recent interview with "The Sun," Ulrich outlined his motivation for undertaking the project, "People already bury themselves in possessions and shield themselves from real life with technology. So if robots and objects can fulfill all their emotional needs as well, why do they need other humans?"  The words, while seemingly innocent actually paint a strange picture on the state of human nature in the 21st century.  In our effort to control all aspects of our lives while affording others infinite freedom, are we really willing to lose the affection of human contact in favor of a synthetic alternative?  While this device alone is likely no danger to worldwide interpersonal relationships, it will be interesting to see how this device - and others like it - will catch on.  Will the strange amorphous robots become a new type of "meta-pet?"  Or will they simply be considered creepy in their attempt to subvert human contact?  It seems likely technology from this object could be used in teddy bears and children's dolls, but will likely not actually replace true human interaction.  Still, given sufficient time, will we reach a point where we cannot tell the difference?

Accupuncture Vindicated

Longtime critics of eastern medicine may have to eat their words as a new study from the Department of Complementary and Integrative Medicine at University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany has found.  If the study is reproduced and found to have the same results, it means that all the years people have been performing acupuncture, they have definitely been making chemical and biological changes to the body on top of any inherent psychological ones.


 
The study took several participants and divided them into two groups.  Those in the acupuncture group received a normal acupuncture therapy session administered by a trained practitioner.  The control group took no acupuncture, and was simply laying on a table.  As each participant was put under an MRI scan, mild electric shocks were applied to both groups.  The findings astounded scientists.

Those who had undergone the acupuncture treatment were showing signs of vastly reduced pain while those who had received no acupuncture treatment showed no change.  The control group was still feeling the mild electric shocks, and the brain's chemistry was reflecting the temporary discomfort.  Those with the acupuncture, however, were barely registering any pain at all.  Since acupuncture is a multimillion dollar industry with thousands of practitioners in the United States and vastly more working throughout the world, the results came as much sought vindication for advocates of the ancient practice.

And so yet another aspect of homeopathic medicine has been vindicated.  The project, which was funded in Germany where homeopathic medicine is widely practiced to an extent even more so than in the United States gives us a clear picture into just what exactly the ancient art does to the brain.  Now, the only question remaining is why it does anything at all.  Of course acupuncture has been practiced in Asia for centuries and is still considered a mainstream treatment of pain there, suggesting that by channeling energy between different points of the body it can not only reduce pain, but also promote healing.  If the method is discovered to work on both levels, could we soon see it practiced more widely in hospitals in the United States?

Interestingly, one of the appeals of Acupuncture is that it allows patients to reduce the amount of pain they feel without the use of addictive drugs.  Additionally it allows patients the ability to seek treatment as needed, even with women who may be pregnant.  As the process does not seem to be chemical in nature, it doesn't actually adversely affect pregnant women in any way or harm their children.  It has, in fact, been used in this capacity for over two and a half thousand years.  Additionally, some advocated of acupuncture have suggested that the technique not only works in conjunction with traditional medications well, it actually compounds the positive effects of pain reducing medication significantly.

And so if acupuncture is given vindication, it may be possible to discover other homeopathic methods for healing that work perfectly without the need for often dangerous and detrimental chemical consumption.

OpEn SoUrCe :: A Tech. Update.

Open source refers to a program or software in which the source code (the form of the program when a programmer writes a program in a particular programming language) is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge.

Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community. 

The Open Source Initiative (OSI):

Open Source is a certification standard issued by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) that indicates that the source code of a computer program is made available free of charge to the general public. OSI dictates that in order to be considered "OSI Certified" a product must meet the following criteria:

• The author or holder of the license of the source code cannot collect royalties on the distribution of the program.
• The distributed program must make the source code accessible to the user.
• The author must allow modifications and derivations of the work under the program's original name.
• No person, group or field of endeavor can be denied access to the program.
• The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a particular software distribution.
• The licensed software cannot place restrictions on other software that is distributed with it.  

  Open source software is normally distributed with the source code under an open source license. The Open Source Initiative sets the following distribution terms that open-source software must comply with::

The Open Source Definition, as provided by the Open Source Initiative is as follows:

Introduction
Open source doesn't just mean access to the source code. The distribution terms of open-source software must comply with the following criteria:

1. Free RedistributionThe license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license shall not require a royalty or other fee for such sale.

2. Source Code
The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form. Where some form of a product is not distributed with source code, there must be a well-publicized means of obtaining the source code for no more than a reasonable reproduction cost preferably, downloading via the Internet without charge. The source code must be the preferred form in which a programmer would modify the program. Deliberately obfuscated source code is not allowed. Intermediate forms such as the output of a preprocessor or translator are not allowed.

3. Derived Works The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software.

4. Integrity of The Author's Source CodeThe license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time. The license must explicitly permit distribution of software built from modified source code. The license may require derived works to carry a different name or version number from the original software.

5. No Discrimination Against Persons or GroupsThe license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.

6. No Discrimination Against Fields of EndeavorThe license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not restrict the program from being used in a business, or from being used for genetic research.

7. Distribution of License
The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties.

8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product
The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a particular software distribution. If the program is extracted from that distribution and used or distributed within the terms of the program's license, all parties to whom the program is redistributed should have the same rights as those that are granted in conjunction with the original software distribution.

9. License Must Not Restrict Other SoftwareThe license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software. For example, the license must not insist that all other programs distributed on the same medium must be open-source software.

10. License Must Be Technology-NeutralNo provision of the license may be predicated on any individual technology or style of interface. 

Free Software Licensing:

All open source software is not distributed under the same licensing agreement. Some may use a free software license, a copyleft, or GPL compatible. The GNU GPL license is a free software license and a copyleft license, while a "GNU Lesser General Public License" is a free software license, but not a strong copyleft license. There are many different types of licenses for free software . some GNU GPL compatible, some not.

The Open Source Initiative approves open source licenses after they have successfully gone through the approval process and comply with the Open Source Definition (above). There is currently well over fifty licenses that have been approved by the OSI.

For example, the GNU General Public License (GPL) is one license that accompanies some open source software that details how the software and its accompany source code can be freely copied, distributed and modified. The most widespread use of GPL is in reference to the GNU GPL, which is commonly abbreviated simply as GPL when it is understood that the term refers to the GNU GPL. One of the basic tenets of the GPL is that anyone who acquires the material must make it available to anyone else under the same licensing agreement. The GPL does not cover activities other than the copying, distributing and modifying of the source code. 

Other open source licenses include the following:

Academic Free License 3.0 (AFL 3.0)
Affero GNU Public License
Adaptive Public License
Apache Software License
Apache License, 2.0
Apple Public Source License
Artistic license
Artistic license 2.0
Attribution Assurance Licenses
New and Simplified BSD licenses
Boost Software License (BSL1.0)
Computer Associates Trusted Open Source License 1.1
Common Development and Distribution License
Common Public Attribution License 1.0 (CPAL)
Common Public License 1.0
CUA Office Public License Version 1.0
EU DataGrid Software License
Eclipse Public License
Educational Community License, Version 2.0
Eiffel Forum License
Eiffel Forum License V2.0
Entessa Public License
Fair License
Frameworx License
GNU General Public License (GPL)
GNU General Public License version 3.0 (GPLv3)
GNU Library or "Lesser" General Public License (LGPL)
GNU Library or "Lesser" General Public License version 3.0 (LGPLv3)
Historical Permission Notice and Disclaimer
IBM Public License
Intel Open Source License
ISC License
Jabber Open Source License
Lucent Public License (Plan9)
Lucent Public License Version 1.02
Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL) Microsoft Reciprocal License (Ms-RL)
MIT license
MITRE Collaborative Virtual Workspace License (CVW License)
Motosoto License
Mozilla Public License 1.0 (MPL)
Mozilla Public License 1.1 (MPL)
Multics License
NASA Open Source Agreement 1.3
NTP License
Naumen Public License
Nethack General Public License
Nokia Open Source License
Non-Profit Open Software License 3.0 (Non-Profit OSL 3.0)
OCLC Research Public License 2.0
Open Group Test Suite License
Open Software License 3.0 (OSL 3.0)
PHP License
Python license (CNRI Python License)
Python Software Foundation License
Qt Public License (QPL)
RealNetworks Public Source License V1.0
Reciprocal Public License
Reciprocal Public License 1.5 (RPL1.5)
Ricoh Source Code Public License
Simple Public License 2.0
Sleepycat License
Sun Industry Standards Source License (SISSL)
Sun Public License
Sybase Open Watcom Public License 1.0
University of Illinois/NCSA Open Source License
Vovida Software License v. 1.0
W3C License
wxWindows Library License
X.Net License
Zope Public License
zlib/libpng license 

Some Successful Open Source Projects:

 

Sendmail
Sendmail is an open source mail transfer agent (MTA) used for routing and delivery e-mail. The original version of Sendmail was written by Eric Allman in the early 1980s. It is estimated that Sendmail is installed on 60 to 80 percent of the Internet's mail-server computers.

Apache Web server
Often referred to as simply Apache, a public-domain open source Web server developed by a loosely knit group of programmers. The first version of Apache, based on the NCSA httpd Web server, was developed in 1995. Core development of the Apache Web server is performed by a group of about 20 volunteer programmers, called the Apache Group. However, because the source code is freely available, anyone can adapt the server for specific needs, and there is a large public library of Apache add-ons.

Linux
(Pronounced lee-nucks or lih-nucks). A freely distributable open source operating system that runs on a number of hardware platforms. The Linux kernel was developed mainly by Linus Torvalds. Because it's free, and because it runs on many platforms, including PCs and Macintoshes, Linux has become an extremely popular alternative to proprietary operating systems.


GNOME
Acronym for GNU Network Object Model Environment. (Pronounced guh-nome) GNOME is part of the GNU project and part of the free software, or open source, movement. GNOME is a Windows-like desktop system that works on UNIX and UNIX-like systems and is not dependent on any one window manager. The current version runs on Linux, FreeBSD, IRIX and Solaris. The main objective of GNOME is to provide a user-friendly suite of applications and an easy-to-use desktop.

 

Mind Reading Computers :: Coming Soon

Imagine a world where you begin your day at work by sitting at a computer and looking at a screen.  As you begin, the windows move with perfect cohesion across the screen and suddenly you're typing as fast as you can imagine words.  Your thoughts organize entire strips of data and soon you've completed all of your tasks in a matter of minutes, only to move on to the next set at the speed of thought.  Sound like science fiction?  New technology is bringing it into reality quicker than you think.

Intel is currently working to develop a complex map of words and their relation to impulses in the brain.  By crossing this barrier between mental data and digital data, quickly your brain's processing speed will be your only limiting factor as you click buttons, type emails, check the web, and call up information to research simply by thinking about it.  Currently Intel's machines can detect several words and even have them appear on screen when subjects think about them.

But as the technology improves, the size of the device used shrinks and the applications grow.  Now it's words, but can we imagine a world where the same technology is brought into the work place the same as the keyboard and mouse were brought in as personal computers first saw use in the commercial sector?

Just as with any new piece of technology the innovations that can be used are virtually endless.  And with them there's an entire new world opened up of mind hacking.  Take for instance the scenario where someone says, "Think about the last thing you ate for lunch."  Before in the privacy of our minds we could give in to the reflex of thinking about our lunch and then a decision would take place between the thought in our minds and the movement of our mouths.  The subtleties in the time difference and those movements may betray us if we had reason to lie about it, but there would still be an opportunity to do so.  What if a bank robber were to walk to a banker and put on one of these mind reading head-sets and ask them to think about the combination?  Of course it would only be a reflexive action, and the banker would have every opportunity to freeze his thoughts, but this would largely depend on how much training he had controlling his thoughts.  And as the technology improves, it may prove more difficult to fool the machine with each passing generation.

And what will we discover if we leave such a machine on as we sleep?  Would we get a better grasp of the thoughts that run through our minds as we dream?  Perhaps this is yet another avenue to wonder about privacy invasion.

So are we in for a world where even our own deepest thoughts are not private?  With feeds such as twitter casually updating the world on our every movement, is it possible we could be opening a Pandora's box of honesty society is not at this juncture ready for?  The applications are as promising as they are terrifying.

PlayStation 3 'hacked' by hardware crackers

A group of hardware hackers claim they are about to release the first product to allow gamers to play homemade and pirated games on the PlayStation 3.

The PS3 is the only games console that has not been hacked, despite being on the market for more than three years.

Now a group called PSJailbreak says it will release a USB dongle containing software that allows users to save games to the console's hard drive.

Sony, the maker of the PS3, declined to comment.

However, a distributor for the dongle said that he had tested it and would start selling the device "in the next two weeks".

Mixed response

According to videos of the hack posted online by an Australian distributor, a user merely has to insert the USB stick into the console to make it work.

The videos show a person navigating to a "backup manager" on the PS3, which purports to show a list of games saved to the console's hard drive.

The narrator flicks through the list before loading one of the games.

Sceptics have suggested the videos are a hoax or that they show the hack running on a so-called "debug PS3" or "dev unit", used by developers to test code for the machine.

A spokesperson for Console Pro, another distributor based in the Netherlands, told the "dongle converts a retail unit into a dev unit".

"Dev mode means it will run any - even unsigned - code. Using a simple backup maker or player software, you can play backed-up [saved] games without the actual disc being in the PS3."

The spokesperson for Fox-Chip said the hack was a "good thing" as it would give gamers more functionality, including the ability to run their own games, called homebrews.

"There was previously no homebrew, because it was impossible to execute [on the console] - now some people can do it," he said.

He denied that the product would just be used to pirate games and said, in the long run, its release would be good for Sony.

"Sony should sell a lot of consoles because of this," he said.

But Rik Ferguson of security firm Trend Micro warned that the hack could cause problems.

"It does disable some key security features built into the PS3 - like the running of unsigned code - and we've seen with the iPhone that this makes your device less secure."

The iPhone has been cracked several times and allows owners to run non-Apple approved applications.

Gamers have met the news of PSJailbreak with a mixed response, with some welcoming the possibility of developing their own games for the popular console.

However, many posting on PS3 forums said that the product would promote piracy and could undermine the games industry.

Pre-emptive strike

The legality of products such as this - commonly called modchips - differs by country.

The Fox-chip spokesperson said that distributing them was legal in France.

However, in other countries, console manufactures have successfully taken distributors to court.

A recent High Court ruling in the UK said that "game copiers" were illegal to import, advertise and sell.

The case had been brought by Nintendo, maker of the Wii and DS handheld console.

The defendants had argued that they allow gamers to play home-made games.

PSJailbreak is not the first time that there have been claims that the popular PS3, which has sold almost 40 million units, has been hacked.

Earlier this year, a US hacker who gained notoriety for unlocking Apple's iPhone as a teenager, George Hotz, claimed to have cracked the console.

Following his initial announcement, Sony released an update for the console disabling a function that allowed gamers to install a version of Linux on their machines, thought to have been exploited by Mr Hotz.

Many saw it as a pre-emptive strike to guard against games piracy.

Mr Hotz has never released the exploit and has said publicly that he has given up his work on the console.

The spokesperson for Console Pro said he expected a similarly swift response to the latest exploit:

"They will come with a firmware update in some days blocking the use of the dongle," he said.

'Memory' how to fight Flu

In short order every few years a new flu strain evolves that many say threatens to disrupt civilization as we know it.  With super bug fears rising every year, some say the next superbug could be the one that finally mimics the Spanish flu and kills millions.  Of course these diseases are often seen as nothing more than an inconvenience.  But fear them or merely dislike them, a new vaccine may soon be available that removes the flu from our lives forever.

The logic of the vaccine is as follows: there are two largely recognizable parts of a flu virus, the head and the stem.  In using an analogy comparing the flu virus to an ice-cream cone we can discover how the vaccine works.  The head of the virus is similar to the ice cream contained in the cone.  The flavors or genetic variations of the virus change from one generation to the next, making it difficult to predict what will be coming next.  Meanwhile, despite the flavors of virus being different the cone is always the same, and rarely changes.  This new vaccine will target the thing that makes all flu viruses similar by making the body produce antibodies that fight specifically against it.

Scientists for years have had difficulty combating the rapidly mutating flus partially because of how different they can be from year to year and even from month to month.  When H1N1 first hit the US, 24 hour news coverage soon decreed that it could be a disaster of national proportions.  In retrospect, many have come forward saying these reports were hasty while others contend that H1N1 was never more than a few mutations away from becoming a serious problem.  And a mere five years earlier the Bird flu H5N1 was seen as a potential killer that could mutate into something quite deadly and cause the same level of devastation.  If every five years a flu is going to come around that threatens civilization as we know it, then a universal flu vaccine is certainly a worthy endeavor.

And that vaccine may soon be developed thanks to the efforts of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and its director, Anthony S. Fauci.  Fauci has found a way to create antibodies in animals that neutralize several different strains of the disease and provide protection that could last for ten years.  Given that somewhere around 36,000 people in the US die annually of the common flu, this would be a milestone achievement.  A single vaccine is expected to last for ten years, meaning up to 360,000 lives could be saved right away.  And that's only taking into account deaths in the United States.  Globally the disease claims up to 500,000 lives annually, meaning up to five million could be saved over one ten year period if the vaccine works.  And this is just taking into consideration the standard flu.  A super flu that could cause widespread devastation in a pandemic scenario could soon become a thing of the past.

Lenovo plans Android tablet PC

Hong kong: Lenovo Group, the world's No 4 PC brand, said it will roll out its own tablet PC, becoming the latest technology company to jump on the bandwagon for computers styled after Apple Inc's popular iPad.

Lenovo was developing a tablet PC, known internally as LePad, that would run on Google Inc's Android operating system, Lenovo spokeswoman Wu Hwa said on Wednesday, adding that no launch date had been set and the name of the product may change.

"We want the tablet PC to be compatible with our LePhone smartphone, which is why we're using Android," Wu said.

LePhone is Lenovo's smartphone offering in China, sold by China Unicom, which also runs on Android.

Tablet PC shipments are expected to grow by an average 57.4 percent per year between 2010 and 2014, research firm IDC said, making the sector a lucrative growth area for companies selling heavily commoditised laptops.

The tablet PC has already caught the attention of major PC companies such as Hewlett-Packard Co, Dell Inc and now Lenovo, as they look to diversify beyond laptop PCs that typically offer low profit margins.

Apple's iPad, launched in April, sold 3.27 million units in the second quarter, prompting research firm iSuppli to revise upwards its full-year shipment forecast for the product to 13 million units from 7.1 million units.

"iSuppli believe that the only limitation on iPad sales now is production and not demand," iSuppli analyst Rhoda Alexander said.

Your hand is a touch screen

Imagine a world where your computer is not only at your fingertips, but directly controlled and interfaced on them. As technology got smaller, unfortunately screen size also suffered, but a new projection technology recently developed hopes to turn the viewing area on computers and personal devices such as cell phones into the user's own glowing skin. The technology was offered as a solution to problems many computer and personal device users have of small screens on smaller devices.

The world of technology is bringing out new breakthroughs that hold the potential to make life both easier in some ways and more inconvenient in others. Social networking sites have made communication far easier, yet at the same time more difficult in several ways, MP3 players have made the average walk down the street less connected with other people, yet opened another world within, and the internet has harbored in a new age of information with informative sites that serve to inform readers honestly and without compromise from multi-million dollar industries at great cost to those industries. But as technology changes, the medium itself must change as well. And what better part of consistency is there than the user the technology hopes to serve?


It's called "skinput." One example sees a tiny LED projector on the wrist pouring out a detailed phone pad onto the hand of a user so they can use their other hand to dial a phone. As each "button" on the display is pressed, a wave is sent up the hand in reaction, and an advanced sensor detects the waves and sends a signal to the tiny processor on the Skinput computer where it is measured and quickly estimated into an exact point of contact on the skin. It's a principle similar to how dolphins use sonar to navigate sea floors and keep an eye out for potential predators as well as food. As the sensors got more advanced, as they were being developed, it became more accurate and therefore more applicable. Essentially a "skinput" device would be exactly like any other touch screen device, except rather than touching a screen, you would be touching your own hand glowing from the projector mounted on your wrist.


As gadgets get smaller, so too must the screens used on them. Fortunately, the problem of a screen too small to see, as well as buttons and interface too small for those with larger hands to use is remedied as the screens will be directly proportional always to the size of the user's hand. In addition, it will be as easy to look at as it is to hold your own hand up to your face. Since the device doesn't need to be held to use, it will be far less likely to be forgotten, lost, or dropped.


Will skinput be able to have military applications as well? Researcher Chris Harrison from Carnegie Mellon institute said the system worked equally well whether running, walking, or standing still. Currently there are limited points of detection for it, however, which will have to be worked out before we find ourselves staring into our empty hands trying to make a phone call.

New Electricity Production Method

A new method of creating electrical energy has been developed by scientists studying nano-technology at MIT through the use of a previously undiscovered phenomena wherein microscopic wires can be used in certain formations to produce electricity at a scale that may lead to a breakthrough in future ultra-small electronic devices.

The basic mechanics involve latticed layered wires known as carbon nanotubes.  The carbon nanotubes are incredibly small hollow tubes that are coated in a layer of ultra high powered fuel that produces energy through decomposition.  The catalyst is a small laser or high voltage spark that travels through the wires using a phenomenon known as thermopower.  The discovery, according to researchers at MIT has opened up a new area of energy research, which is understandably rare.  The wave of electrons is pushed through the lattice work  like a tsunami after a large shelf falls into the ocean, each individual electron pushing the next one out, while the high yield output actually amplifies the electrical output using the fuel hidden within the carbon nanotubes.  Currently the potential power output for a typical Alkaline battery such as a AAA is merely 1/100th of the potential power input of a Nanotube battery of the same weight.  Imagine a tiny battery cell that actually has a power output of 100 times that of a typical AAA battery.  Imagine three large 6 volt batteries put together, and you have almost the amount of power output potential of one AAA battery sized Nanotube battery as it currently is.  In a world where many limitations on green energy rest on the potential keeping power of batteries, the Nanotube battery has the potential to bring about a technological revolution the likes of which has not been seen in several years not only for its potential power output, but its limited size.

Of course an incredible amount of research must still be done before these batteries are ready for application in larger systems, but as it currently stands there are already several potential applications for smaller systems that will hopefully be coming out in the near future.  The downside, of course, is there is still much time and work that must be put into these projects and several different avenues of research before these systems could be economically viable.  One potential application, according to the scientists who first discovered the property, is to have several tiny sensors with these energy systems to be released into the atmosphere to observe changes and transmit data on potential climate change.  If the battery systems turn out to have larger applications, however, they could in time be perfected and used in robotics systems as well as a number of space faring ventures as well as nanotechnology which is currently limited by the current energy storage and output.  As technology gets smaller, energy will be a larger concern, but with Nanotube batteries, hopefully the next generation of computers (or possibly those two generations from now) and gadgets will have high yield batteries that will make them all the more viable and marketable.

Google enters travel market with flight data purchase

Search engine giant Google has entered the travel market after acquiring flight information firm ITA Software.

ITA provides software that organises fares, flight and journey times that are used by airlines, travel agents and flight comparison sites such as Orbitz.

Google said it may well expand the scope, enabling users to search directly for flight destinations.

Google paid $700m in cash for the US-based company, founded in 1996 by a team of MIT computer scientists.

"What we're going to do is build new flight search tools that focus on end users," said Google chief executive Eric Schmidt.

However, he said that the firm would not be selling airline tickets to consumers and that it would honour "all existing agreements that ITA has with its partners".

Those partners include some of Google's direct competitors - such as Microsoft's own flight comparison website, Bing Travel.

Other firms which had been bidding for ITA included Travelport, Expedia and Kayak, many of which are also dependent on ITA for their flight data.

A spokesman for Kayak told that, for now, they were not concerned.

"In the short term, it's not an issue, because Google said it's honouring existing agreements," he said.

However, there are fears within the travel industry that Google could have an excessive influence. Google says the acquisition is "pro-competitive" and "pro-consumer" but said regulators were likely to examine the deal.

"I would expect that it would be a significant review," said Mr Schmidt.

The Independent's travel editor, Simon Calder, told the biggest loser may be the old legacy booking systems, should Google expand ITA's remit.

"If anything, the airline industry used a system that you could describe as the forerunner to the internet," said Mr Calder.

"The aviation industry used GDS - the Global Distribution System - for decades, because there were computers in travel agents, airports and airlines across the globe.

"Now it consolidates around Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo and World Span and these still have legacy aspects. For example, if you book a flight from London to Mexico City via Dallas, you will still have to pay $3 for each segment.

"If Google can do something to rival that, it would be very interesting and exciting.

"But, as with all things to do with Google, the issue of market domination comes up," he added.

Collision course

Google confirmed it was also working on a project that would enable users to search for hotels, with the results displayed on Google Maps. That could put put it on a collision course with firms like Expedia, Travelocity and Opodo.

Mr Calder said that while he could see merit in Google running a flight information firm, he was not convinced that it should launch a travel comparison website of its own.

"While there is great competition when it comes to transatlantic flights, from smaller airports, the choice for a passenger is more limited," he said.

"There are plenty of price comparison sites already and for someone booking flights, the system is almost perfect, so I don't see how Google is going to get a slice of that."

Nokia N900 Hacked To Run Android Froyo

Nokia's Maemo-based N900 smartphone has been hacked to run Google's latest Android 2.2 Froyo operating system.

Tech blog Engadget has posted a video of an N900 device running the Android 2.2 OS, codenamed Froyo.

The Nokia N900, launched in 2009, was the first Nokia device to run the MeeGo OS developed by Nokia and US-based chip maker Intel.

The device, which comes with a 3.5 inch screen and 600Mhz ARM Cortex A8 processor can be seen running Android smoothly, with a fast internet connection and apparently full support for the phone's hardware.

Nokia recently announced that it will be replacing the Symbian OS with its MeeGo operating system on all future Nokia N-series smartphones. The company said that Symbian will still be used in all of its cheaper smartphones.

Apple patent case 'could affect all android phones'

Apple's legal action against HTC may have "wider implications" for all phone makers using Google's Android operating system, an analyst has warned.

Ian Fogg of Forrester Research said that the case against HTC, in which Apple alleges infringement of 20 of its patents, could be the first of many.

Although Apple has not named Google in the suits, many of the named patents relate to operating system processes.

Google has taken the unusual step of publicly supporting HTC in the case.

"We are not a party to this lawsuit," said a Google spokesperson.

"However, we stand behind our Android operating system and the partners who have helped us to develop it."

Wider implications

HTC was the first manufacturer to use Android in its phones and is also the maker of Google's own brand Nexus One handset.

Some have speculated that Apple - which makes the popular iPhone - are attacking Google "by proxy" by filing the case against HTC.

"I think this is kind of an indirect lawsuit against Google," analyst Shaw Wu of Kaufman Brothers told Reuters.

Some of the patents that Apple alleges have been infringed are 15 years old and cover aspects of operating systems.

As a result, some believe that the patents cannot just relate to HTC and believe the case may just be an opening salvo against other firms and possibly Google.

"Simply because Apple has focused on HTC now doesn't mean it won't take action against other manufacturers later," Mr Fogg told BBC News.

"[This case] could have implications for all other phone manufacturers which have just announced their phones at Mobile World Congress."

Mobile World Congress is a showcase for the phone industry, held every February in Barcelona, Spain.

Manufacturers including Sony Ericsson, LG, Samsung and HTC announced new handsets running Android at the show.

"2010 is going to be the year of Android," said Mr Fogg.

Legal web

In a statement Apple boss Steve Jobs said: "We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it.

"We've decided to do something about it."

The Californian firm alleges that HTC have infringed 20 patents owned by Apple that are used in the iPhone.

Apple is seeking an injunction which would effectively bar HTC from selling phones that use the disputed technology in the US.

The legal action has been filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and a district court in Delaware.

HTC has said it is unable to comment on the case until it has had a chance to assess the validity of the claims.

It is the latest in a series of legal wrangles involving Apple.

Finnish phone giant Nokia sued Apple for patent infringement in October 2009, alleging it had stolen patented technology.

In response, Apple countersued in December 2009, followed by a second round of legal action from Nokia.

Apple is also being investigated by the ITC following a complaint by camera manufacturer Kodak. The firm alleges that the iPhone uses technology for previewing pictures that infringe Kodak patents.